BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?

Subject: BS: Bury "The Ashes"?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 05:52 AM

In my opinion, whilst one-day cricket is one of the best sports in our world, test-cricket is one of the worst - thus, should The Ashes be buried or fought over via the one-day form?...
(PS: I've looked at this in a SHAPED poem, called DOT-BALL, which I could not properly post here, sorry - hence, please use either of these links: e-scroll; e-book.)

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 07:08 AM

I'm sorry, I disagree with you. Test cricket is the highest form of the game but is unsuitable for those with a short attention span. It epitomises the rhythm of an English summer (including delays for rain - just tune in to TMS). Fortunes change over the days along with the conditions. Players have the evenings to mull over tactics, strengths and weaknesses, and overcome or be overcome by mental aspects of the game. Although one-day cricket has a place, and even Twenty-20 has its supporters, I'd almost rather they were renamed than ever be thought of as replacing the 'real' Test of a cricketer.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 07:38 AM

I love the 20/20 games and the one dayers, but to suggest that the test matches should be changed or that the ashes should be buried beggars belief.

Cricket is in my blood and I just love the test matches.

WV, you just enjoy your 20/20's and leave us that love test matches alone.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 09:02 AM

As I suggested in the above poem, WS and TV, if a batsman misses the ball completely (rather than being good enough to at least get an edge, which could be caught/out) in a test match, there may be no punishment at all (unless the batting side is running out of time, e.g.); however, in limited-over cricket, at least the batting side thereby suffers a dot-ball - thus, the competition is much fairer with far less luck involved.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 09:14 AM

WV
Are you saying that the batsman should be penalised if he can't hit the ball?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 09:32 AM

I'm saying, TV, that, focusing on a batter, an air-swing is a worse effort than an edge.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Will Fly
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 09:35 AM

A test match lasting several days is rightly a "test" - of tactics, stamina, coping with shifting fortunes, match play - in fact, the highest form of cricket. One might say, if one were a mouldy fig, that the one-day matches and other forms have, in point of fact, debased the game...

What I do object to, is playing any form of the game in anything other than whites. Harrumph!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 09:51 AM

>>a batter, an air-swing is a worse effort than an edge<<

So you give the bowler no credit for delivering an unplayable ball, either by use of swing or the ball moving off the seam.

I teel you, I don't think I would see the ball at all when somebody is bowling at 90mph. Harmison would kill me.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Will Fly
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 09:59 AM

In the 50s, my school XI used to have an annual match with Lancashire Cricket Club at Old Trafford. This was in the days when Cyril Washbrook was the captain, and one of England's finest fast bowlers of the period - Brian Statham - played for the LCC. Statham was chatting to some of us youngsters after the match (the school lost...) and said that he put accuracy above pace every time. So, for example, he never rated himself faster than Freddy Truman, but he was more consistently accurate.

If you missed many of Statham's deliveries, you were out - simple as that - bowled.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 10:44 AM

"So you give the bowler no credit for delivering an unplayable ball, either by use of swing or the ball moving off the seam."...no - not I, TV, but the game of test (rather than limited over) cricket itself. And I'm sure Mr. Statham deliberately aimed outside off-stump sometimes, Will, to try and get an edge - BUT no doubt some of those deliveries proved too good for an edge!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 10:52 AM

Brett Lee out of first test and could be more, due to sore ribs.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 11:01 AM

Thinking of the great Brian Statham, there's an apocryphal tale from Radcliffe, my home town, which was then in Lancashire (still is in my opinion). The council wanted to name a street on a new estate in honour of the great man. One option seriously under consideration was "Brian Close." I can only conclude that a tyke mole was on the council!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Will Fly
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 11:08 AM

LOL!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rifleman (inactive)
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 11:21 AM

The game of cricket should be buried.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 11:34 AM

And it 'kicks off' (must be a better term!) Wednesday, 11a.m. 2.1 miles from my house
First Test

Is this the first England vs Australia test match not to be played in either England or Australia?

Cheers
Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 11:46 AM

I don't know about "burying the Ashes" so much. Isn't it usually the latest hapless England team which gets buried. The one true defining quality of Englishmen is their ability to be perrenially awful at this sport, which really belongs to those who live in warmer climates!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 11:48 AM

Looks like it Nigel.

Bit dangerous playing in Wales. It always rains.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 12:31 PM

...I thought it was England AND Wales v. Australia..?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: olddude
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 01:02 PM

I was always fascinated with cricket. I freely admit that I don't understand the game. It looks like a lot of fun. I think there is about 1600 rules, more so than the NFL ... someday I am going to try to understand the game. Does look like fun, I still don't understand a googly . I think it is a pitch of some type.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 01:40 PM

To make sure, I had to google "googly" myself, Dan - wiki.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: olddude
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 02:11 PM

Thanks Wav
I always wondered what that term meant in cricket

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 05:20 AM

Further to 4 posts above...

"...A similar mess over nationality occurs in the sporting world where English children, for example, can hope to play (perhaps managed by a citizen of a nation they may compete against) football for England, rugby-league for England/Great Britain, rugby-union for England/British Isles, athletics for England/U.K., golf for England/Europe, cricket for a combined England and Wales, or tennis for Great Britain - but Wimbledon is still The All England Lawn Tennis Championships…Anyone for friendly-rival republics?!" (from here).

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 06:45 AM

I suppose, somebody not knowing anything about cricket, reading that Harmison has just bowled a maiden over, may well call him a bounder or a person who goes around being voilent to maidens LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 07:30 AM

I just love it the way the bowlers use the rubbing of the ball against their privates to sex themselves up and then say they are shining the ball :-)

Warne has just dropped a dolly. Well we all know cricketers go to bed clutching a dolly :-)

He's just bowled a chinaman. I thought they were supposed to bowl a cricket ball.

He's just bowled a floater. Dirty devil, couldn't he have left it in the toilet and flushed it away, like the rest of us do

The batsman has just received a full toss from the bowler. No comment LOL

The bowler has just sent the batsman a jaffa. Well he probably didn't get his vitamin C today.

Finally
The batsman keeps on slashing outside the off stump. Diry bugger.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 08:23 AM

My favourite commentary:

"The batsman's holding the bowler's Willey."

Apparently it really happened!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 08:45 AM

LOL
The oft cited quote:

" The bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey "

allegedly occurred when Michael Holding of the West Indies was bowling to Peter Willey of England in a Test match at The Oval in 1976. Johnston claimed not to have noticed saying anything odd during the match, and that he was only alerted to his gaffe by a letter from "a lady" named "Miss Mainpiece".[3][4] According to Christopher Martin-Jenkins,[5] the cricinfo biography,[6] and the biography of Brian by Johnston's son Barry,[7] Johnston never actually made the remark. His son says It was too good a pun to resist...but Brian never actually said that he had spoken the words on air. . However, this is contradicted by an account [8] offered by Henry Blofeld, who claims to have been present at the time. It is perhaps worth noting though that, with Blofeld's recollection of the score being 81-7 when the remark was made, England had a healthy first innings, and in the second Willey was the fourth wicket.[9] A popular cricket website, Holdingwilley.com, has named itself after this well-known cricket anecdote, although the site is a general cricket website and doesn't focus on that incident alone.


Taken from Wikipedia

However I do like these 2 related to Brian Johnston

In one famous incident during a Test match at the Oval, Jonathan Agnew suggested that Ian Botham was out hit wicket because had failed to "get his leg over" (a British slang term meaning to have sex). Johnston carried on commentating (and giggling) for 30 seconds before dissolving into helpless laughter.

and

" There's Neil Harvey standing at leg slip with his legs wide apart, waiting for a tickle "

when Neil Harvey was representing Australia at the Headingley Test in 1961.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 09:18 AM

Yes, cricket is just made for terrible puns, isn't it?

Football does not have so many, although there was a beauty in a magazine about twenty years ago. Arsenal had just lost the final of a European competition in the dying minutes, when a player floated a ball over David Seaman's head. The headline read, "Could you lob Seaman from forty yards?" (Read it aloud).

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 09:45 AM

It's a long time since I repatriated, but I do remember this Australian comedian being very funny at times - The 12th Man.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rifleman (inactive)
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 11:14 AM

"...I thought it was England AND Wales v. Australia..?"

The Welsh are VERY different, so, please stick to your 'home rule for England' or whatever it is you indulge yourself in.....

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 12:29 PM

...so is it time for Wales to play international cricket - along with rugby, etc. - on their own..?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 12:41 PM

'one-day cricket is one of the best sports in our world, test-cricket is one of the worst'

Well I think that says quite a bit about you, mate. Test cricket is the ultimate game, the changing conditions of the wicket and the weather over the five or six days of the match mean that your team has to be capable of accommodating all the possible changes, rather than bringing in a few burly lads (or lasses) who can knock up a quick 35 runs, or bowl sufficiently negatively to restrict their opponents. Cricket where it doesn't really matter if you don't take wickets isn't the full game. It also takes a special skill batting out to a draw on a wicket that's really turning.

I don't mind the full 50 over one-day game, but surely 20/20 is just for those people who don't really like cricket - and that's why they bring in piped music and dancers.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 01:03 PM

I've watched a lot of 50 over games (and a few World Cup 60 overs), but have never seen a 20/20 game (I just have Sky's basic family pack); I'd imagine, though, that I'd agree with you, in this case, that 20 overs is too brief, Les.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 03:06 PM

It's not cricket.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 03:58 PM

Villan,
I heard Brian Johnston say it .
I also heard him say the next batsman is Henry Horton,who has a rather peculiar stance a bit like someone shitting on a sooting stick

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rog Peek
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 04:16 PM

Test cricket is far and away the finest form of the game, an ashes series the pinnacle. Roll on tomorrow!

Rog

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 04:42 PM

Captain
I thought I had heard it as well, so was surprised to see that it supposedly didn't happen.
The memory box is not too good these days, so I just accepted that it didn't happen.
Now what was I going to say......

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 04:52 PM

I remember now

I agree with Rog

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 05:21 PM

I know these things always start with optimism - England at the World Cup, a Brit at Wimbeldon etc and we know how they always end. I just want to ask you cricket buffs, is there any real prospect of the MCC providing credible opposition for Australia this time around, or is it just the usual fanciful thinking?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 05:38 PM

No I don't think its fanciful. England have quite a good team when they put their mind to it.
I personally do not think that the Aussies are as good as they used to be.
So all in all it should make for a good hard fought match.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 07:56 PM

One bloody thing's for sure. Along with millions of others, I won't be able to watch it on the telly.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 08:42 PM

What a wonderful discussion these polemics are me thinks. Reading it all, as I have--twice now, on this cool summer night in Illinois (where our governors make our license plates) I am transported to the shores of a thoroughly tranquil and idyllic stream with mole and other wind in the willows things. The fact that I have no idea what the hell any of you are going on about makes being here with you one of the most marvelously relaxing bits of time I have ever spent. No distressing words with real meanings to ruin the pastoral bliss of it all. This is better than Soma, or cocaine---maybe even ice cream!

I must thank you all.

By all means, bury your asses -- if that will make you happy! But, please, leave something of it sticking out above ground. That way you will never, ever, run out of bicycle racks!

Affectionately,

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 04:37 AM

"That way you will never, ever, run out of bicycle racks!"...In France, Art Thieme, the bikes are well and truly off their racks for the Tour de France - and that is certainly not cricket!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 05:49 AM

Just about to start

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 08:15 AM

97 for 3 at lunch. I hope England bat better after lunch.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Chris Green
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 08:43 AM

So do I! Not a promising start, chaps.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 09:59 AM

151 for 3 need Peterson & Collingwood to work hard and build at least a 150 partnership.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 10:51 AM

Business as usual? Maybe the weather will rescue England?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 10:59 AM

194 for 3 at tea, so almost 100 of the 150.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 01:12 PM

Test cricket[IMO]is the ultimate form of the game ,and is infinitely superior to twenty twenty,which is just glorified tip and run.
what more delight can there be than bowling a maiden over.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 01:17 PM

..."bowling a maiden over" in the World Cup - still 60/60 overs, I believe. And tip/hit and run - that brings back some memories.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 02:10 PM

The Grauniad reckons that England were shaded today, but they are still in the hunt. Will Australia score six hundred tomorrow and kill the game by Friday? That is the usual script as far as I remember it... Let's see what happens.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 02:31 PM

When we buried my old uncle (after he died) we did leave his ass sticking out of the ground just so I could use it as a bicycle rack---like I said. There was a two week period that I had to study for finals, and I wasn't using the bicycle at all then.
Rigor Mortis set in and I never did get that wheel out.

We put a plaque on it as a memorial stone to mark his grave.

Got the plaque off his teeth!!

Art

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 04:34 PM

Big wash-out forecast for Saturday, could finish in a draw.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rifleman (inactive)
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 04:40 PM

Tour de France - and that is certainly not cricket!
and I say thank god for that. The Tour is far more exciting

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 07:55 PM

"When we buried my old uncle (after he died) we did leave his ass sticking out of the ground just so I could use it as a bicycle rack---like I said. There was a two week period that I had to study for finals, and I wasn't using the bicycle at all then.
Rigor Mortis set in and I never did get that wheel out."

Are you sure it wasn't because your performance in the finals was so buttock-clenchingly awful?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 02:08 AM

The paragon of games !

I played it for 47 years out here in the Australian sun

Who remembers Lillee, caught Dilly bowled Willey ?

There is a theory that God could have invented a better fruit than the strawberry...but he didn't and man could have invented a better game than cricket but he didn't.

AD 1943

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 04:25 AM

"Who remembers Lillee, caught Dilly bowled Willey ?," Vaguely, Alan...and what was that one...if Lillee don't get you, Thomo will..?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 08:16 AM

Seems to me WAV that you favour the short limerick over the well-crafted sonnet.

The thing is that 20/20 is a short term spectacle (designed to enable ticket sales for 2-3 matches in a single day) whereas test cricket is a game of stamina, strategy, careful thought and low cunning. I hope to enjoy every twist and turn and stratagem of the current series

From my own experience there is no greater delight than a seat in the middle rows of the Lords Grandstand on test match Sunday with a well-packed hamper and a fortifying bottle or two. The prospect of a days sport and not having to worry about work until Monday. Heaven!

The real problem with 20/20 is that you keep having to put your beer down to applaud :)

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 08:59 AM

As I said above AWM, brother!, I've never seen a 20/20 but I'd imagine they are too brief - I have, however, enjoyed a few 50/50s and World Cup 60/60s, and have, by the way, penned a few sonnets (link atop, if you so wish).

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 10:04 AM

Australia on 101 for one in reply to MCC's four hundred. It looks like England are going to need that rain on Saturday!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 10:06 AM

Monty brought into the bowling. Can he do something.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 11:36 AM

Australia on 161 for one... This is beginning to look like business as usual, despite a good start from England.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 12:57 PM

Over 220 for one now. Time for a rain dance?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 02:59 PM

Doesn't look too good does it.

However Ian Botham seems to think England got a duff ball that doesn't swing and they need to get the new ball and hopefully that swings. Is he suggesting that the Aussies are in collusion with the umpires and they fixed the ball.

Surely not!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 05:12 AM

The gist of the Guardian report was that England played well, but are gradually being thoroughly outplayed by a better team. I guess we can't ask any more than they do their best. It looks like rain will save them this time, but over five tests, the Ashes are likely to return to their natural home. Let's see if our bowlers have any more luck today.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 07:53 AM

343-4. Some wickets going at last. Australia can afford them, but could the luck be turning England's way?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 08:06 AM

The new ball is certainly moving a lot more than yesterdays nut 348-4 and the new men are not scoring at all freely.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 09:38 AM

It should be a draw. especially with tomorrow's weather forecast. Australia are playing well, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 09:59 AM

Oz even staging a comeback in the women's Ashes! Grrr.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 10:04 AM

By the way, does the inclusion of Max Boyce in the lunchtime TMS slot make this an above-the-line thread? ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 12:56 PM

And as I forecast a draw , the bookies odds at the moment 1/5, the Aussies certainly laid down their marker, poor bowlers on both sides, Aussie batsmen looking good.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 09:26 AM

634-5. Aussies putting England to the sword. England must now feel very glad that they batted first. A bit of bad weather weather could still save them. However, if the Aussies bowl a whole day against them, I think England's inevitable batting collapse will ensure the right result. It looks like they are simply outclassed and it is business as usual. This is not a bad side by England's standards, but they are obviously not really credible opposition for the Australians just yet.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 11:59 AM

The collapse started with the help of an Umpire Doctrove very trigger happy with Bopara. I wonder sometimes how they make these decisions.
Schoolboy cricket umpiring.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: BaldEagle2
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 12:18 PM

I wonder if the Scottish version of cricket will ever catch on in the rest of the world.

As you probably know, Scotland is very, very hilly - no, far more hilly than that.

So finding enough flat land on which to the play the game is so rare, that have adapted the game to be played over the crest of a hill.

Each side has an extra player, who stand either side and mid-way along the pitch.

One signals to the batsman where the ball is coming from, and the other signals to the bowler where the ball went.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 01:04 PM

Blimey, BE - I'd heard of French cricket (even played it) but never Scottish cricket!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 01:37 PM

Bald Eagle is having you on. LOL :-)

When I lived in Scotland, I played cricket on normalcricket grounds.

However I do remember playing golf in Bo'ness.
One of the holes had this sort of Conical small hill. You teed off and had to hit the ball over the hill and the green was at the bottom the other side. I would imagine it ruined many a golfers score card. It certainlyruined mine. :-)

One thing the Scots are good at and very passionate is Golf. Such beautiful golf courses. Managed to play the KIngs and Queens at Gleneagles.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 01:55 PM

I gathered that, TV - hence the "!"...never played golf at Gleneagles, but I did enjoy one round at Saint Andrews; and, I agree, holes where the green is hidden can be more than a challenge.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 02:00 PM

Blame the umpire?, that wasn`t the umpire I seen bowling, outclassed in this one, the rain to Englands rescue.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 02:28 PM

We are just getting the Aussies into a false sense of security.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 07:43 PM

I hope so. But England are over two hundred adrift and have to bat all day tomorrow to avert an innings defeat. Then they move on to Lords, where I am told, the Aussies always win. There was a miracle once with Ian Botham. Do you think the age of miracles is over, or could something as preposterous ever happen again?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 03:32 AM

By the look of the forecast, they might have to bat out half a day. That is if they can apply themselves to the job.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/2160?count=10

I would like to see Harmison in the next match. His confidence is back, so well worth a try.

England are not that bad, but seem unable to apply themselves when needed. I am amazed that none of the English batsmen scored a ton in the first innings.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 06:01 AM

They did reasonably well. Over four hundred is a respectable score. Unfortunately, it is nowhere near good enough to compete with Australia!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 01:55 PM

Wow, the rain kept away, and I have to admit to giving England no chance today, if they had to bat all day.

Panesar and Anderson should get a gold star for what they did.

Well done England for stopping Ponting and his Aussie crew from winning the first test match.

What an exciting finish.

A good bollocking to every player and getting them pumped up for the next match is needed now.

That took the smirks off the Aussies LOL :-)

Incidentally, I think the England team should be fined for sending on thsoe players at the end just to take up time. I don't like to see that and its not good sportsmanship.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 02:13 PM

It takes a proper cricket fan to appreciate the fact that a five day game ending in a draw can be described as 'exiting' and 'thrilling'.

But England batsmen need to learn something about shot selection, and England bowlers need to learn how to bowl to quality batsmen when they aren't getting any help from th pitch.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Arnie
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 04:38 PM

Collingwood was the match saviour with his 74, and it's a shame he wasn't still at the crease at the end. Still, it was a great finish with Anderson and Panesar hanging on in there for the draw. I agree about the bad sportsmanship sending on the physio and a pair of spare gloves just to run the clock down - totally unnecessary and just not cricket! I also agree that Harmison is due another outing and possibly Onions. Roll on Lords...

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 04:47 PM

Phew! Just recovering from the if-I-pretend-I think-there's-no-chance-might-they-just-sneak-it? double-blind. Worked for once! As said, would you ever get a dot ball cheered in the short form? They certainly counted more than runs in that last hour.
Bury the 'Ashes'? Pah!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 05:22 PM

...with only a basic Sky package, I didn't see it, but the delaying tactics described just above are nullified by the limited-over form.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Jul 09 - 08:35 AM

Ihope that the selectors pick Rashid ,and drop Bopara or Panesar or Broad.he is a good batsman and a leg spinner.
Adil Usman Rashid (born 17 February 1988, Bradford, West Yorkshire) is an English cricketer who plays for Yorkshire. Previously a player with England Under-19s, in December 2008, he was called into the full England Test squad, for the Test matches to be played in India. He was then selected for the full tour of the West Indies.

Rashid is an all rounder, although as an English leg spin bowler (a rarity in modern first class cricket), it is his bowling that has attracted particular attention. He has already taken more than 100 first-class wickets and has received coaching from Terry Jenner as part of an ECB programme to encourage wrist-spinners.[1]

Rashid is only the third Yorkshire-born Asian to play first-team cricket for Yorkshire,[2] and the first of Pakistani origin.[1] In 2006, ECB bowling coach David Parsons considered him the most talented young leg-spinner in the country.[3]
I hope people will not stop booking me at Folk clubs because I have uttered an opinion about the England Cricket team.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 15 Jul 09 - 11:10 AM

I find it strange if not stupid, giving Flintoff and Pieterson injections becuase of their injuries. Surely if they are doing that, these guys are not fit and could do themselves untold damage by playing.

I would rather rest them until their injuries are cleared up properly.

I also think it sends the wrong message to other players available to play in the team.

Nobody is indespensable

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 15 Jul 09 - 02:25 PM

As someone who has had a series of ligament and joint problems, I can heartily endorse that statement. Playing while injured is likely to lead to other injury problems. I tried to carry on training before a ligament injury had healed on one side of the foot. The resulting stress put it out on the other side. It then went on to cause an imbalance on the meniscus of the opposite knee. That resulted in a year's loss of training and an operation. I shudder to think what some of these sportsmen are doing to their bodies. No sport is worth doing permanent damage to your body.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 06:20 AM

lords cricket ground used to have a ridge,which bowlers could take advantage of,is it still there?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 07:45 AM

100 before lunch.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 08:09 AM

I was the above Guest.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 05:09 PM

For what it's worth, I did watch the highlights on channel 5 tonight and, sure enough, there were a few unpunished air-swings, but I certainly enjoyed the slow-motion pics - that also made Wimbledon a better watch, this year.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 06:22 AM

Oh dear.

I sat there thinking this morning, that with the weather the way it is, England could lose wickets very quickly.

So I am sitting here with dismay as England collapse to 378 for 9 from an overnight score of 364 for 6.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 08:42 AM

But the tail-gunners gave us another 40 and then Australia are 2 down at lunch. There's definitely some movement in the pitch and at the moment about 7/8ths cloud and the rain is keeping off to the west. Could be an interesting afternoon

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 09:13 AM

its raining now.

Lords has always been good for swing bowling from my memory.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 11:39 AM

why pick Flintoff,they must have known he was considering retiring,time to give Rashid a chance.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 12:33 PM

A very surprising afternoon. The Aussies are currently at 118-5. It sounds as if they are currently batting like one of the taditional England teams. Can this be for real?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 04:44 PM

It sure can 156-8

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 18 Jul 09 - 04:53 AM

May it continue. England bowling like Australia and Australia batting like England!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Folk Form # 1
Date: 18 Jul 09 - 05:16 AM

I'd have 45 minutes each way.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 18 Jul 09 - 01:41 PM

Another boring day's play with no incident then...

Hey, why don't those chaps at Turnberry just have a go round the local pitch-and-put? Then they would have avoided that nasty wind that sorted Tiger out.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Jul 09 - 11:11 AM

refresh.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 19 Jul 09 - 11:11 AM

The Aussies put on nearly sixty for the final wicket and England did enough with the bat to declare yesterday. Now the Aussies are still short of two hundred with five wickets down. I would say that plenty is happening. A good day's batting could still win this game for Australia, but things definitely look to be going England's way at the moment.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 19 Jul 09 - 12:19 PM

alanabit, I was referring to yesterday, and I may have been a teensy bit tongue-in-cheek. If you check my first post (No. 2 on the thread)my position is clear.

Hanging in...

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 19 Jul 09 - 01:44 PM

Looks like it could be close tomorrow, doesn't it? Australia need to sell their wickets dearly and score about four runs an over. If they manage that they will win! One way or another it looks like there will be a result tomorrow and Australia could well pull off a win.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Jul 09 - 01:54 PM

it depends on the weather conditions.
England must still be favourites to win

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 19 Jul 09 - 03:26 PM

One good thing about Lords is that the first hour or two is favours the bowlers.
I will be very disapointed if England havent got it sown up in the morning, unless it piddles down.
Just to wipe the smile off the Aussies.

Refreshing to have Shane Warne commentating.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 02:28 AM

Bearing in mind that even Australia's tail enders put on runs, I would be very worried if they did not lose a wicket in the first two hours. With a hundred and fifty to win and a day to bat, you would expect the Aussies to walk it.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 04:40 AM

with only 150 to win you would assume that, but they have to get 209 :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 04:59 AM

For sure. But I was assuming that if the overnight batsmen stay in for two hours, another fifty odd runs will go up on the scoreboard. It is going to be a nervous morning!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 06:31 AM

One of the wickets gone. Excellent bowling from England

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 07:02 AM

Another gone.
Well bowled Swanny

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 07:11 AM

Flintoff the great. Another one bites the dust.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 07:26 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 07:28 AM

So excited I hit the wrong button. Can we? Can we? Now to see if Freddie can get fivefor..

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 07:30 AM

My cup runneth over!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 07:32 AM

He did he did. One wicket to go

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 07:44 AM

oh ye of little faith,what did Isay.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 07:45 AM

Swanny

We did it

Great test match.

Well done England - great performance.

It takes 2 to make a match and Australia played really well, but I thought they didn't get the rub of the green from the umpires.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 08:15 AM

The first time England have won against Australia at Lords for 75 years. Let's just hope that we do not have to wait for so long for the next win! Well done to everyone concerned. It looks like you were right Les. All power to your elbow.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 09:29 AM

the umpires do not have the benefit,of slow action replays for everything,luck generally evens itself out,the better side won.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 12:48 PM

It was great to shove it down the Aussies throats, but 10 out of 10 to Ponting. He didn't whinge or moan about the umpiring. Took it on the chin.

I bet he is seething and England had better be on top form in the next match.

Captain
There were quite a number of appeals/decisions that had an element of doubt irrespective of cameras etc. A good umpire doesn't give a batsman out if there is the slightest doubt. Maybe the umpires need to go to specsavers. I expect an umpire at that level to always give the batsman the benefit of the doubt. Some of those decisions were little better than parks cricket umpiring.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 02:09 PM

Fair play to you Villan, the umpiring was too bad to be true, England were the better team and where are all the England fans who wanted rid of Flintoff?, he gave an exhibition of bowling.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 02:36 PM

I didn't want Flintoff playing becuase I was concerned about his injury. I don't think having injections in his knees is a good idea, and I would assume, only makes it worse in the long run.
Flintoff would die for England. However it is up to the Management to protect people like him from doing themeselves severe damage.

Having said that, he was brilliant and you couldn't ask anymore from him. I thought Shane Warne had fallen in love with him. He seemed besotted with Freddie. Can't beat an Aussie giving the plaudits to an Englishman. Freddie go and get pissed tonight, you deserve to have the freedom of England.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 05:02 PM

Villan,tell us which decisions they were, apart from Ponting in the first innings.
On this occasion England were the better side,and would have won without the Ponting decision.
Flintoff took six wickets,and scored a paltry 34 runs.
anderson took four wickets and scored 29 runs.
Swann took four wickets.
Strauss scored 195 runs
Cook scored 127 runs
Onions took 3 wickets, Broad took 3 wickets.
it was a team effort.Collingwood tok amagnificent catch and scored 70 runs.
Flintoff bowled well in the second innings ,his batting was crap,and he took 1 for 27 in the first innings,he chose the right time to retire.
Flintoff did well in the second innings,but he has not been consistent enough for some time,probably because of his injuries.
so have Australia never had a dubious umpiring decision go in their favour?
England fully deserved the victory,so cut this crap about umpiring,that happens to all sides periodically,and give the better TEAM[not just Flintoff] the credit they deserve.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 05:33 PM

Captain
You obviously don't read my posts. Sometime back I wrote
Quote

One good thing about Lords is that the first hour or two is favours the bowlers.
I will be very disapointed if England havent got it sown up in the morning, unless it piddles down.
Just to wipe the smile off the Aussies

One of the wickets gone. Excellent bowling from England

Another gone.
Well bowled Swanny

Flintoff the great. Another one bites the dust

then

We did it

Great test match.

Well done England - great performance.

It was great to shove it down the Aussies throats,

Unquote

I was only criticising the standard of umpiring, not the English performance. England were brilliant.

Hughes c Strauss b Flintoff
M Hussey c Collingwood b Swann
both dubious decisions and the benefit should have gone to the batsman on both occasions with good umpires.

I agree with you entirely. You win some you lose some and it balances over time.

That doesn't stop me discussing the umpires. Entirely seperate to the match.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 05:39 PM

Oh may I add that I used to umpire a lot and really enjoyed doing it and through that take a great interest in umpiring as well as enjoying the match.
So I don't look purely at what both sides do, but look at the umpiring side as well. I hate bad umpiring for both sides as it can change a game.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 04:24 AM

They are both good umpires.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 05:47 AM

Captain

I said "I hate bad umpiring "

I didn't say that they were necessarily bad umpires, just umpires making IMHO bad decisions on the day.

Lets call it a day as we are on a collision course here. We don't agree so lets agree to not agree. I won't be discussing further.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 06:25 AM

not a collision course at all.
it is a question of getting everything in perspective,why should umpires be criticised for making a tiny proportion of errors,and not given praise for all the good decisions,and I am talking about all umpires here and also football referees.
soon no one will want to do the job,if people carry on criticising.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 07:50 AM

Ihave probably been over critical of them myself in the past,but with the greatest respect,Les,I doubt if you or I could do better,perhaps they should intrioduce a system where every decision is replayed,or have a system similiar to wimbledon where each side is allowed three replays.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 05:17 AM

Benefit of the doubt.

The principle employed by umpires in cases of uncertainty concerning a batsman possibly being out, in which the decision must be in the batsman's favour.

Time after time top class umpires give decisions against the batsman and IMHO go against the Benefit of the doubt ruling.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 08:06 AM

it is just not cricket ,Les.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 10:04 AM

Indeed Dick, its very fishy.

Thank goodness somebody has made Pieterson have an operation and hopefully he will get a full recovery. I just cannot see what injections can do, other than hide the problem.

Bring in Ian Bell and Harmison and drop Panesar.

Pieterson is out, lets get on with it.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 07:16 AM

OOps I think I am going to change my mind after reading this article about the Edgebaston pitch. Leave Panesar in and bring Bell in for KP

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/8164751.stm

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 24 Jul 09 - 08:27 AM

Anybody seen anything on who will play next week?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 29 Jul 09 - 12:24 PM

No TV - but just over a month to the first one-day international!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 29 Jul 09 - 01:47 PM

No TV-but just over sixteen hours to the next proper cricket match!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 12:27 PM

Caught a bit of the day 1 (rather than the 1 day!) highlights and wondered why they didn't keep playing to make up for the rain delay - there seemed plenty of light left..?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 02 Aug 09 - 04:35 AM

Poem 115 of 230: SUNDAY CRICKET AND BERRIES - SUMMER 2000

From a bus (ninety-eight -
    Bury to Manchester),
I got off at the gate
    Of Hamilton Road Park,
Where in situ I ate
    Several blackberries
(The taste too good to wait),
    Before making my way
To a further park-gate,
    From where briefly I watched
How Stand's cricketers rate.

From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)
Or http://walkaboutsverse.sitegoz.com (e-scroll)
(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 07 Aug 09 - 08:54 AM

England at 84-6. It looks like Australia will be batting by tea time and will have this wrapped up by Monday at the latest. I do not like to see England taking this sort of hammering, but I am not unhappy that the bastards, who booed Ponting the other day, are having their boos stuffed back down their throats.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 07 Aug 09 - 12:08 PM

...either way, A., less than a month until the one-dayers!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 07 Aug 09 - 02:47 PM

I just wonder why England decided to bat after being woken up by a fire in the hotel at 4:00 this morning and then having to stand outside for some 20 minutes or so.
Surely their concentration was bound to be affected by lack of sleep.
I think I would have fielded and then hoped for a good nights sleep.
I actually think that Strauss was worried about the Auusies batting first and rattling up a big score and therefore fell into the trap of batting first.
As they say, it was a good toss to lose.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Aug 09 - 04:48 PM

Ah well, TV - for those, like you, who do like their test-cricket, at least it's all to play for in the final test match it seems, before the ONE-DAY SERIES.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 03:47 AM

This very nearly was a premature start to the one day series, wasn't it? The match will be over by tea time today, if not by lunch time. I had thought they could at least string it out for a fourth day, but there is only a remote chance of that happening now. England will lose by an innings and ca. 200 runs. Where does this stand on the list of all time whackings of an England cricket team? Am I right in believing that there were some even more ignominious disasters against Australia and the West Indies in the eighties? I do not like to see England humiliated like this, but to some extent it is a result well deserved by the bastards who booed Ponting the other day. I despise that scum. Well done Australia.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Alan Day
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 04:37 AM

I really cannot understand Strauss decision to bat first, He has in his team probably the best swing bowlers in the World and swing being linked to weather conditions,we had the muggiest period of weather known for some time, ideal for swing. It can only be his worry over Prior's injury just before the start, or just muddled thinking.
The final test looks to be a decider. One for Freddie to be a hero?
Al

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 12:09 PM

It has been said before that England are strong when Yorkshire make up a proportion of the team. Anyone (apart from Boycs)think Sidebottom should have played? Cut his teeth at Headingly I believe. But I'm glad Broad rewarded faith in him, and hope he continues form in the next PROPER cricket match, at the Oval.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 04:24 PM

I am prepared to back England in the next match

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 04:40 PM

Will Leg Before Inside Edge be recoed in the next Wisden?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 05:12 PM

both Sidebottom and Rashid should play.
Collingwood should bat no 3, Bopara should be dropped.
I see no one is complaining about bad umpiring decisions this time?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 05:13 PM

I thought I just did........

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 10:56 PM

Three things astonished me:

1 The decision not to play Freddie, even if only as a batsman.

2. The decision to bat, when all Strauss had to do was send Australia in and let them worry about when to declare. A draw would have done the trick

2. The appaling England bowling when thay had only to emulate the Australian policy of bowling a good length at middle and off stump all day ...amazing !

Still, the last day was all good fun and holly hocks


AD 1943...and an Australian who played cricket for 47 years

It is still the paragon of games my friends

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 04:31 PM

I still see the same old problem from umpires. Not giving the benefit of the doubt to batsmen.
Is it that difficult.
Send all umpires to Specsavers.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 05:03 PM

Remember the Australian fast-bowler Geoff "Henry" Lawson, TV? He was also a qualified optometrist, who at least once took the liberty of removing and inspecting an umpire's glasses!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 08:28 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 08:57 AM

...not long now until the one-dayers...but shouldn't the Welsh be an independent cricketing nation?..

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 12:26 PM

Don't knock this series WAV, we could win this one and win the series! England have a 172 run lead on the first innings!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 12:58 PM

Yup, another boring uneventful afternoon.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 04:10 PM

Unfortunately England performed a near miracle this afternoon and then lost three wickets for fifty three runs. I think only England can do things this farcical. England can now bat as slowly as they like. They just have to make sure that Australia are not given over two days with the bat and less than three hundred runs to score. There will be a lot of laughter in Sydney if that happens! All the pressure the Aussies were under must have evaporated when the Australians took three cheap wickets.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Hrothgar
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 08:35 PM

Bit of laughter in Brisbane, Melbourne, etc. too.

I think the Poms are short a few Jappies.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 09:05 PM

we will see.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 03:59 AM

Dutch downhill skiing, Norwegian surfers, Jamaican skaters, English cricket...

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 05:06 AM

...I repeat, what about Welsh cricket - from what I can gather, they'd be a pretty handy cricketing nation already?...in case you haven't noticed, the Scots are independent re. cricket.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: goatfell
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 06:29 AM

I just hope the best team win the ashes.

from a scot

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 12:29 PM

...and, from an Englishman, it's certainly not cricket, but Inveraray just beat Kingussie, at Scotland's shinty, in an exciting MacAulay Cup final.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 02:16 PM

England declared too early,they should have let the last pair try and snick 20 more runs.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 01:03 AM

We will be glued to our televisions this evening in Australia. An amazing series really. Bobby Simpson some years ago bemoaned the fact that none of our batsmen could bat for 3 days (he once did for over 300!)   Surely it can't be too hard to bat for 2 days in a Test. We will see...
Allen in OZ

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 04:10 AM

The fact is, that if Australia can bat for two days, they will win easily. I think they can afford to score less than three runs an over. It is going to be warm, so they should cruise it. I shall get pretty excited if wickets go before tea time today, but I can't see Australia losing if they have four wickets left at the end of today's play.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: mandotim
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 04:49 AM

It's always fun to here someone who knows nothing about a subject holding forth. WAV reminds me of the Private Eye 'Sally Jockstrap' column, always confusing sports. Back to WAV's real agenda, racism; WAV, it's true that Scotland and indeed Ireland have ICC playing sides; but I think you'll find that the good Scots and Irish players have usually opted to play for England, the only Test playing nation in these isles. You won't remember most of them, as your interest in cricket seems to be like your interest in folk music; very recent, and massively incomplete. I'll give you Mike Denness and Ed Joyce as starters. See if you can find some more. A cursory flick through Wisden would help. You mean you don't buy Wisden every year? Shame on you, call yourself a cricket fan!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 05:05 AM

Using "racism" is false and defamatory, Mandotim; what I do want, rather, is to live in an independent republic of England; and, accordingly, would like to see Wales playing AGAINST England, Australia, etc., at cricket - as well as rugby, football, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 05:22 AM

"Bobby Simpson some years ago bemoaned the fact that none of our batsmen could bat for 3 days (he once did for over 300!)"

Batted for 300 days? That out-Boycotts Boycott! If Oz get to 200, or even 150, without loss, there will be tightening of scrota...

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 05:59 AM

Bobby Simpson, I believe, learnt classical dance to improve his footwork - perhaps that helped toward his 300 plus.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 07:25 AM

This looks as if it is going to be a game. Australia are now at 130-2. Their run rate is on target for a win, isn't it? Let's hope England can take a couple of wickets this afternoon. I am going to be very worried if Australia have four wickets standing at the end of the day.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 07:44 AM

alec bedser learned ballrom dancing sometime before Simpson.
Garfield Sobers footwork was better than either,he scored 365 not out on one occasion.as far as I know he did not take dancing lessons.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 09:49 AM

At last a bit of luck! Two run-outs have changed the match position after a good stand for the third wicket. After all the playing and missing, near lbws and misplayed shots (as well as some really good batting) England are strong favourites again. Until the next century stand. Nice to see Freddie getting into the action in his last Test Match, running out Ricky Ponting - champagne moment!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 12:54 PM

the best team won,never mind luck,skill is involved to run people out.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: mandotim
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 01:15 PM

Like I said, racism.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 01:22 PM

Well done England

I haven't commented until now, so that I didn't put the mockers on England

I bet the Aussies are sick as a pig now :-)

You bet our economy will pick up tomorrow :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 01:52 PM

Well done England. Australia were on over three hundred for five when I went out to pick up the family. I was starting to think that they were going to bat into day five with five wickets up. I came back an hour later and it was all over.
Les, it looks like your faith was justified. I am always very surprised that we can even compete at cricket. So I have a lot of respect for all concerned this time around.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 04:05 PM

Wa-hey!!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 04:33 PM

Not long until the far-better-game one-dayers now - when batsman WILL be punished for air-swings with a "Dot Ball" (atop).

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: mandotim
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 04:53 PM

One dayers; ersatz cricket for people with short attention spans and not much knowledge of the game. 20/20 even more so. Wickets prepared totally in favour of batsmen, bowlers reduced to bowling negatively, artificial fielding restrictions that make a mockery of the subtle, tactical equation of runs, wickets and - crucially - time. Tell me WAV; would you enjoy tennis matches that consisted of a single game to decide the winner? Would you penalise the server a point for missing the first serve? How about football; would five minutes per half be ok? Golf; three holes to decide the Open Champion? All of these are rough equivalents of your assertion that the shorter form of cricket is better. Have you ever been to a Test match (or any professional cricket match, for that matter?)
Well done England, sorry about your countrymen losing WAV; better luck next time.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 05:10 PM

I'm an English repatriate, Mandotim - actually born here the day Alf Ramsey's English team won the World Cup of football (not to be confused with the World Cup of cricket - decided by LIMITED OVER cricket encounters, of course).

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 05:39 PM

bad luck WAV,Maybe the Aussies should have had you in their team.Iam sure you could bowl a maiden over,or two.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 06:08 PM

Strange how the Hapless Repatriate accepts that sports can be multi-national, and yet other cultural matters (such as music and dance) must remain confined within strongly Regulated National Boundaries. We are well acquainted with his view of English Football being a Foreign Farce, but what of other countries playing football at all? Have they not got their own sports? Shouldn't Nation States stick to their own Good Indigenous National Sports rather than International ones which no doubt contribute to the loss of indigenous cultural identity by promoting a more cosmopolitan world view? How can he square his fondness for Wimbledon with his love of a Multicultural World wherein National Cultural Identity is being eroded by tennis? And is football more of a Foreign Farce that even WAV would have us believe? Is cricket the legacy of our Imperial Past? Blah blah...

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 06:54 PM

Dear Paul Burke.

All good fun and no doubt written in jest. I watched Boycott bat and , yes, it did seem like 300 days!. It was not so much " batting" as "occupying the crease". I am still surprised that Australia could not bat for 2 days, notwithstanding the state of the pitch.

Still, congratulations to England... a wonderful effort.

AD 1943

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: mandotim
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 03:18 AM

If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, it's a duck. Have a listen to WAV talk and 'sing' on his website. You're an Australian pretending to be English cobber, irrespective of where you were born. No one would mind that, if you didn't persist in trying to tell real English people how to be English!
Allen in Oz; respect to the Aussies too, they played a good, hard series in a fine sporting spirit. They'll be itching to do what they did to England the last time we went to Oz!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 03:27 AM

To Allen in Oz...
You'd be mad to ditch Ponting as captain too. A real Gent who came across as very professional and magnanimous in his post series interviews. And, anyway, who'd replace him?
A thoroughly enjoyable series, with its myriad twists and turns. The test match is the pinnacle of cricket for me...One good or bad session can change the destiny of a whole match. If the Aussies had managed to be still there at close yesterday, the Brits would have been seriously doubting their abilities to win.
G'Day to you mate.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: mandotim
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 04:30 AM

Still no answer to my question (as usual). Have you ever been to a Test Match WAV? Another question; how come (under your philosophy) the Australians are allowed to play cricket at all? Shouldn't they be playing some game that originates from their 'Own Good Culture', not one that grew up in rural England?
As for revealing you as a racist WAV; that has been exhaustively demonstrated on previous threads to be neither false nor defamatory, but rather an accurate summary of your expressed and published views.
Oh, and by the way WAV; if you were a proper Englishman, you'd be spending the morning nursing a massive hangover and proclaiming Test cricket to be the greatest and most prestigious game in the world, because that's what we Brits do on the rare occasions when we're winning at something.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 04:35 AM

mind you watching Boycott bat is seriously stimulating when you compare him to Trevor Bailey,
watching a blank television,is about the only thing more boring,Bailey was the master of cricket stonewalling.
Johnny wont hit today Douglas was another,although he was before my time.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 05:03 AM

S. and Stu: I accept that some sports have become global, and appreciate nations competing, against each other, at them. And, accordingly, I would like Welsh cricketers to compete for Wales, and NOT a combined England plus Wales. I disagree with the British Lions, too, and note that some in rugby circles are also being to question it.

"Oh, and by the way WAV; if you were a proper Englishman, you'd be spending the morning nursing a massive hangover and proclaiming Test cricket to be the greatest and most prestigious game in the world"...that's stupid Stu - I started this thread BEFORE the Ashes series started, and I wrote "Dot Ball" years ago, and I stand by those views. And you would have to be stupid to call me a "racist".

Before I repatriated, at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Adelaide Oval, I've watched both test and one-day cricket. And, since I repatriated...

Poem 115 of 230: SUNDAY CRICKET AND BERRIES - SUMMER 2000

From a bus (ninety-eight -
    Bury to Manchester),
I got off at the gate
    Of Hamilton Road Park,
Where in situ I ate
    Several blackberries
(The taste too good to wait),
    Before making my way
To a further park-gate,
    From where briefly I watched
How Stand's cricketers rate.

From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)
Or http://walkaboutsverse.sitegoz.com (e-scroll)
(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 05:11 AM

Mandotim, on this occasion, NOT Stu, sorry.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: mandotim
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 05:38 AM

OOOH, Wav, I'd have to be stupid would I? Does that also apply to all the other people on this board who have argued cogently and intelligently that your repugnant and utterly bogus adopted nationalism constitutes racism by any accepted definition? How many people are you calling stupid? You consistently propound views that would prevent those of different nationalities and races from participating in activities that you yourself would be able to enjoy, purely on the grounds of where they happen to be born. That's racism, and if you subscribe to those views, you are de facto a racist, and calling things 'false and defamatory' doesn't change that one bit. It's not me who's out of step here sunshine, your persona on this board is seen clearly for what it is. Don't get me started on your appalling sexism.
Adelaide Oval eh? What year? Which matches? So you haven't watched any first-class cricket since 2000 then. Not exactly an active cricket supporter, are you? I would have thought you'd be a Durham glory-hunter by now, going to watch them now they're doing well.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 06:11 AM

"Oh, and by the way WAV; if you were a proper Englishman, you'd be spending the morning nursing a massive hangover and proclaiming Test cricket to be the greatest and most prestigious game in the world"...that's stupid Mandotim - I started this thread BEFORE the Ashes series started, and I wrote "Dot Ball" years ago, and I stand by those views. And you would have to be stupid to call me a "racist".

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 06:16 AM

I accept that some sports have become global,

Well that's a start. Try applying the same logic to music.

And you would have to be stupid to call me a "racist".

On the contrary. You would have to be stupid not to call you a racist. Apart from your various posts on this forum, all one has to do is read your published MESSAGES there to see your racism writ large.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: s&r
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 06:19 AM

WAV why do you cut and paste the same drivel on different threads like on this thread and your 'poetry' thread 24 August 5.03 and 5.04 Mudcat time. I thought you had stopped cut/pasting..

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 12:49 PM

Here's what you could have replied following my frank answer to your question, Mandotim: "Okay WAV, so you have had a genuine interest in cricket for sometime, and your 2 arguments on this thread re. Welsh cricketers competing for Wales, and One-day cricket being a better game than test cricket, have nothing to do with racism - I'm sorry."

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 12:52 PM

200,leadfingers is not a cricketer,well he wouldny be with aname like that would he.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 01:28 PM

>>
Okay WAV, so you have had a genuine interest in cricket for sometime, and your 2 arguments on this thread re. Welsh cricketers competing for Wales, and One-day cricket being a better game than test cricket, have nothing to do with racism - I'm sorry.
<<

They sure don't as far as I am concerned.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 01:44 PM

Appreciate that, and hope this thread can continue through the one-dayers.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: mandotim
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 02:11 PM

Listen WAV; you still haven't answered my question about whether you have in fact been to any first class cricket matches since 2000, and have resorted to calling me stupid and also repeating your vile racist arguments about all over this board. Why should I be nice to you? I can demonstrate conclusively against accepted definitions that you are in fact a racist, and I've never been nice to a racist in my life.
As with almost every other area on which you see fit to pontificate, your outpourings prove beyond doubt that while you may have an interest in cricket, you haven't bothered to learn anything other than the superficial features of the game. That's your problem WAV; it's really irritating when you seek to lecture people who actually know a lot more about the subject in question, and who find your ideas puerile at best and repugnant and obscene at worst. Examples abound, but I guess you lecturing Eliza Carthy on English traditional folk music was a high point. Your views on why women should be prevented from playing lawn tennis were another, and an Australian with no knowledge of football trying to tell a bunch of Brits how the game they grew up with should be organised was truly risible. Your ideas about English culture bear no resemblance to any culture that has existed even briefly in England, and appear to be based on careful study of hymns, a very limited number of traditional songs and perhaps the odd seaside postcard. For someone who claims to have anthropology qualifications, your views appear a little under-researched, don't you think?
Finally, I'd like to add another 'ism' to your growing list. You keep proposing controls that would keep national cultures 'pure' and unadulterated by influences from other nations. An example was your assertion that people in England should not be allowed to perform any music originating in America. That's fascism, WAV, naked and unadorned. Look it up.
I'm not sorry for any of this WAV; you are an unapologetic fascist and a racist, and I will continue to challenge you as I would with any other fascist and racist. The fact that you deny that you are a racist doesn't make it less true; please don't bother to repeat all your ridiculous arguments about imperialism, fair trade and so on; we've heard them before, and they are still irrelevant.
Granma McAlatia says hello, by the way, and hopes you are feeling better.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 02:15 PM

Cool it down Tim.
You are making some very serious allegations.

Lets just keep on talking about Cricket which is what this thread is about.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: mandotim
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 02:24 PM

Hi Villan! I'm very cool about this, thanks; and there are no allegations here at all. Everything I've said can be substantiated by reading the vast number of messages WAV has posted here over the last couple of years. Facts, not allegations. When you cross reference WAV's views against academically acceptable definitions, the terms 'fascist' and 'racist' are inescapable.
If you think WAV started this thread to talk about cricket, check out his post early in the thread (7th July) where the real agenda begins to arise.
Tim

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: mandotim
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 02:28 PM

Villan; One further clarification; Wav's lecturing on things he knows bugger all about. Evidence for that is in this thread; he thinks World Cup games are 60 overs a side (not 50), and had to google to find out what a googly is.
Regards
Tim

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 02:55 PM

Tim
If thats the case. then just ignore him, and talk to the people that do seem to know.
Les

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 04:53 PM

It went from 60 to 50 overs in 1987, sorry.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 25 Aug 09 - 05:31 AM

I would like to wish Freddie a speedy recovery. You have provided such wonderful pleasure to us cricketers over the years. You will be missed in the test matches.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 26 Aug 09 - 03:15 AM

To the Villan: "Freddie" Flintoff

I could not agree more (even from an Australian perspective)

When I watched him,my mind went back to some amazing players (inluding Freddie) that I have seen:

Frank Tyson (whom Benaud ranks as the fastest ever...and I agree)
Fred Truman, Brian Statham, Wes Hall, Sobers, Gower, Walters,Lara, Tendulkar,Warne,Pollock,Colin Milburn, both Chappels,Lillee,Thomson,Griffith etc etc etc

Best wishes

Allen

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 26 Aug 09 - 04:09 AM

Hi Allen
Yes indeed Freddie Flintoff.
>>
Some great names mentioned there.
Frank Tyson (whom Benaud ranks as the fastest ever...and I agree)
Fred Truman, Brian Statham, Wes Hall, Sobers, Gower, Walters,Lara, Tendulkar,Warne,Pollock,Colin Milburn, both Chappels,Lillee,Thomson,Griffith etc etc etc
<<

Beefy Botham
Glen McGrath has always been one of my favourite bowlers.
Sir Frank Worrell was great player
Merv Hughes - was he frightening :-)
Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding,Courtney Walsh, Curtley Ambrose Evil Gits :-)
Waqar Younis, Imran Khan, Wasim Akran
Jonti Rhodes


Yes your right, the list goes on

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 26 Aug 09 - 07:21 AM

The Villan

You blokes must never sleep over there

Flintoff and Botham must be very high up on our ladder of greats as they perfomed so well when under great pressure in Ashes series ( as did Steve Waugh)

We have left out the mighty Viv Richards aaaargh !( Not to mention Keith Miller and Ted Dexter)


I must admit that the best I ever saw ( and I have been going to the Sydney Cricket Ground since 1951) was Sobers


I went to school and played cricket with Dave Renneberg so I popped out to the SCG to see my old mate bowl for NSW to Sobers . The master had arrived to show the lads from NSW just how to play the game . He scored 130 amazing runs. So fleet footed was he that he could change his mind from a forward shot to defence against fast bowling as the ball was coming down and still hit it for 4.

If I never was another game of cricket after that I would have loved the game for life

AD 1943

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 26 Aug 09 - 09:16 AM

Allen

Gary Sobers, what a player.

I actually played on the ground a month or so before he scored his famous 6 sixes on. We used to do a tour in Wales every year.

Whilst it was indeed a great feat, it does have to be put in perspective LOL

When I played on the ground the boundary was very short (the same side that he slogged one out the ground).
I was a specialist point fielder and I fielded on the boundary at the normal point position. It was so strange. It was stop it or its a six.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWA7wYKcPGo

The first 6 he hits, is the side I am on about.

Les

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 08:07 AM

The Eurosport channel has just started covering Twenty20 cricket, so I've seen it for the first time. For what it's worth, I'd rate this form below 50/50 one-dayers, but above test cricket.